Philadelphia, PA—October, 2013- Perry and Sherri Gold of Moorestown, NJ, and Marc Rosenthal of Haddonfield, NJ, managing partners of the inaugural Sports & Education Expo (www.sportseducationexpo.com), announced that former major league baseball players with the Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken Jr., and his brother Bill Ripken, have signed on to be keynote Expo speakers Friday evening, December 13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Ripkens will be sharing their expertise that evening exclusively with attending coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers and guidance counselors who work with Kindergarten through 12th grade students throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior, that afternoon, the Ripkens will be providing a two-hour clinic for coaches at every level. Members of the Ripken Baseball Organization will also be manning a Ripken exhibit booth the weekend of December 14 and 15 providing information for parents and young athletes ages 5-18. Admission to the Ripken Experience Coaches Clinic only is $50, with limited space. Admission to the Ripken Coaches Clinic, plus an unlimited, three day Expo pass is $199. For more details, visit www.sportseducationexpo.com.

In its premiere year, The Sports & Education Expo is providing sports, education and health & wellness resources to everyone involved in or interested in the youth sports of soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse, golf, football, tennis, rowing, hockey, fishing and archery, as well as special needs sports. On Friday evening, prior to the Ripkens’ keynote event, there will also be a live radio show with Mitch Albom, bestselling author and sports radio broadcaster and writer, with Angelo Cataldi from the WIP Morning Show in Philadelphia.

Saturday and Sunday, the Expo is open to the public and is geared to parents, athletes and future athletes, ages 5-18 with hundreds of exhibit booths featuring the latest in technology and equipment, numerous workshops by the top experts in the fields of positive coaching, sports injury prevention, sports psychology, college planning, financial aid resources, celebrities, interactive and autograph opportunities, and more.

“A big part of what we are doing these days is growing the game at the grassroots level and this event is a perfect fit for Ripken Baseball. We are excited to visit Philadelphia and meet with so many others who share a passion for youth sports,” said Cal Ripken Jr.

“Cal and I have taken the lessons we learned from dad and throughout our careers and bring them to other coaches through our coaching clinics. We are excited to be a part of the Expo right up the road in Philly,” added Bill Ripken.

Expo event director Sherri Gold, who with husband and fellow Expo managing partner Perry Gold are the parents of two High School baseball players, said, “we are ecstatic about welcoming the Ripkens as our keynote Friday evening speakers at the Expo. They are tremendous role models of achievement both on and off the playing field.”

“The Ripkens will be providing invaluable advice and we are honored to have them play such a significant role in our inaugural year,” added Perry Gold.

According to Expo managing partner Marc Rosenthal, “The Ripkens bring a wealth of experience and we’re thrilled to have them as part of our team.” Rosenthal, also a sports parent, is the 2012 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Special Events Society and executive producer for Mitch Albom.

Cal Ripken is a first ballot Hall of Famer and one of just eight players in history with more than 400 home runs and 3,000 hits but he is best known as baseball's all-time "Iron Man" for playing in a record 2,632 consecutive games during his 21 year career with the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken was also a 19-time Major League All-Star, two-time American League MVP, a two-time All-Star Game MVP and in 1982 he was named AL Rookie of the Year.

Bill Ripken is a 12-year major league veteran with the Orioles, Rangers, Indians and Tigers. During his playing career Bill was one of the best fielding second basemen in the game and is a member of the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame. Today, Bill is an Emmy nominated broadcaster with the MLB Network and co-hosts a weekly show with his brother on Sirius Satellite Radio.

About Ripken Baseball, Inc.:

Ripken Baseball, Inc. is a sports entertainment company based in Baltimore, Md. that represents the business interests of Cal Ripken, Jr. and Bill Ripken. Established in 2001, the mission of Ripken Baseball is to inspire athletes through remarkable experiences. Ripken Baseball currently owns and operates multiple Minor League Baseball teams and plays to host numerous youth tournaments, camps and clinics at The Ripken Experience baseball complexes in Aberdeen, Maryland and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For more information about the Ripken Foundation or Ripken Baseball, visit http://www.ripkenfoundation.org/ or http://www.ripkenbaseball.com/ or call 888-Ripken1 (747-5361).

About the Sports & Education Expo:

The inaugural Sports & Education Expo will take place December 13-15, 2013 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It is an event that combines the passion for youth sports with the importance of higher education, and the commitment to health and wellness. This Expo is the first to bridge the gap between the role that sports, education and health plays with our younger generation. For more information about the Expo, call 800-825-1575 or visit www.sportseducationexpo.com or contact sherri@sportseducationexpo.com.